People with COPD may experience difficulty breathing. The symptoms of the disease include shortness of breath and a cough that won’t go away, both of which may get worse during winter.

Breathing difficulties found with COPD are caused by long-term damage to the lungs, usually caused by smoking.

Liam Darling-Cooper, a health trainer at Northumbria Healthcare, said: “Our aim is to support COPD patients to improve their health and fitness, therefore resulting in making daily living tasks easier, such as walking, and also helping to prevent unnecessary hospital admissions and GP appointments.

“Patients tell us because their breathing improves their anxiety levels are reduced and they are more confident in managing their illness at home.